Pam Down Under: Random bits ofGilles Street Primary School

Harmony Day is managed by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship and coincides with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. It is a day of cultural respect, widely celebrated across schools, community groups, businesses and federal, state and local government agencies.The message of Harmony Day is Everyone Belongs. In 2013 the theme is: Many Stories – One Australia.

Everyone tried to wear orange on Harmony Day.
One student was draped in a orange pillowcase.

At Gilles Street Deb, Ginny and I conveniently walked a few doors from the school and across the road to the balloon shop where 3 enormous bags of orange, helium balloons were waiting. We then tied them along the front fence at the school and hung a harmony day poster. The wind, of course, the biggest that I have encountered, caused willi-willies, and pushed many of them into the rose bushes to pop. By noon those left were rescued and brought into the library. The weather eased enough to have an entire school picnic across the street at the park where kids brought food to share and then were given orange freezies. One mom from my class brought chicken tandori and when I told her how much I liked it she said that she would send it once a week for me to enjoy.

Most of the day was full of kid harmony except for, guess what, (the same issue at home: another universal issue), cutting and pushing in line- and then what do you think, yes, dobbing on one another. But, for the majority of each day Gilles Street Primary School seems to be a very peaceful place. Everyone that I meet when I say that I work at Gilles St. smile and say how lucky I am. The school has a great reputation. Then people will say that it has heaps of good things going on. Their arts program is fantastic, and even without test prep the students are high achievers. The school has the highest rating. Some great teaching include the excellent applied math lesson which shifted from concrete to abstract. Kate's class built birds' eye models of their homes with base 10 blocks, then drew their diagrams from the models and figured area and perimeter.

will upload some great photos soon

Cathy's reception class was working on patterns in math and created patterns to music. They choreographed pattern moves while crossing jump ropes. They are up to repetitions of four, ADORABLE and earnest.

I thought that I videoed her class, but it has vanished. More manual reading required.

I love the drumming groups. One group has drummers in training, while the schools' more advanced students are part of city hall performances in the spring.

At breaks girls have a clapping, singing, cup passing game. Gardner kids may want to learn to play. It takes heaps of concentration and teamwork. (Also thought I had a video)

great art all around the school

Jon, the TRT, taught my class an excellent game in the hall. PE teachers here's a recipe for a great game: You have 4 equal teams. Each child on a team has a number. The teacher calls a number. Those children with that number run around all four corners of the room then after rounding a riser they rush to the middle and try to footie kick the ball to the child who ran last and is now sitting on the riser in one of the 4 corners of the gym. The person in the corner on the riser may not lift their bum off the riser or they lose the chance of getting a point. The point goes to the team whose sitting goalie gets the ball. It is great fun and so is scooter dodge ball which I will explain later Teachers conduct their own PE here and only once a week.

banners around perimeter of the hall

kid made banners

Amy's receptions have modern furniture to stimulate group learning and barra range lunar and barra cloud shaped tables. It is a beautiful learning environment. Check out this school furniture website http://www.vef.com.au/pro_kidzworkz_lilypads.php It might make you jealous, teachers.

The smart board is essential to most of the junior primary teachers. It is used so well, and the school subscribes to great resources. I am learning to use it slowly, but the units of study are already beautifully created.